By Ajnadin Mustafa.
Tripoli, 21 May 2015:
In what would be a dramatic new development, Misratan forces are reported to have carried out . . .[restrict]a joint operation with the Libya Nation Army (LNA) against the Islamic State in Sirte. According to the sources in the LNA, it carried out air strikes against a checkpoint controlled by IS to the west of the town this evening while Misratan forces, thought to be Brigade 166, attacked on the ground.
If true, it would be the first joint operation between Misrata and the LNA since they found themselves on opposite sides of the divide a year ago when Operation Dignity was launched in Benghazi and Libya Dawn took over Tripoli.
In recent weeks, Misrata has been re-positioning itself, reaching out to its opponents in a bid to move away from the increasingly ideological divide in the country, making peace deals with the Warshefana west of Tripoli and the Magarha in the south.
Two days ago, Misrata’s main military brigades announced an initiative to end the divisions in the country saying that the fight against terrorism (in other words IS) had to be the top priority. [/restrict]
